Green and Mean

Lately it seems that everyone is going green. People are finally realizing that their actions have an environmental impact beyond the garbage cans in their kitchens. Magazines are doing issues devoted to eco-consciousness. Builders are using renewable resources. Cars are running on alternate fuels. There is a political party, and a concert, and of course a movie. Celebrities are basically french-kissing Mother Earth. Chicago is even getting in on the act, unrolling a brand new recycling program to replace our old, notoriously ineffective one. Environmentalism - once the territory of shining-eyed hippies with names like Butterfly and Echo - is now mainstream enough to be considered a bona fide trend. Green is officially IN.

Unless you're a behemoth company looking to pour a bunch of toxic shit into our drinking water, that is.

BP gets break on dumping in lake

The massive BP oil refinery in Whiting, Ind., is planning to dump significantly more ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan, running counter to years of efforts to clean up the Great Lakes.

Indiana regulators exempted BP from state environmental laws to clear the way for a $3.8 billion expansion that will allow the company to refine heavier Canadian crude oil. They justified the move in part by noting the project will create 80 new jobs.

Under BP's new state water permit, the refinery -- already one of the largest polluters along the Great Lakes -- can release 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more sludge into Lake Michigan each day. Ammonia promotes algae blooms that can kill fish, while sludge is full of concentrated heavy metals.

The refinery will still meet federal water pollution guidelines. But federal and state officials acknowledge this marks the first time in years that a company has been allowed to dump more toxic waste into Lake Michigan.

BP's new Pollute Some Shit Permit allows them to toss 1,584 pounds of ammonia and 4,925 pounds of sludge into the lake every day. EVERY DAY. Damn, I drink that water, assholes!

If you're wondering who's going to do something about it, who's going to put a stop to that, the answer is nobody. BP's final permit was issued on June 21; the 18-day appeal period ended Monday. Aside from sending eviscerating emails to BP's customer service, the only thing to do is not purchase their product. Walk, or ride your bike. Take public transportation. But if you have to fill up your tank, please drive past the BP and Amoco stations.

It's the green thing to do.